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Letters Pam No. 93,544, dated August 1o, 1869.

l:rimuoveMuur IN SUBMARINE cbrnme.

The Schedine referred in these Letters Patent andmaking part of the same.

To all wliom it 'laan/'concerne Be itv known that I, CLARK S.MERRmAN, of the town of Afton, in the State o'f Iowa, have invented a the following is a full and'exact description of the same, 'reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

This suit consists of a jacket. and.lieadpiece, so joined andconnected together as to form the whole of the upper garment, and pant-aloons and boots, also connected in like manner, and forming but one piece or article.

The inner linings of both are so made that spaces are left in each, to admit the introduction of air through tubes, and become inliated.

The tops of the pantaloons and the bottom portion of the jacket are constructed of elastic India rubber,

so that when a metallic baud is placed aboutthc waist,

having outwardly-projecting iiange's formed upon its upper and lower erlges, thereby making a groovein thev same, the elastic rubber will fit in the saidgroove, and, by means of thc belt, when buckled, will forma close and water-tight jointor joints where the jacket and pantaloons meet upon the belt or band- The head-piece, attached to the jacket, envelopes the head and a portionof the face, and, where it comes in contact with the latter, is made ofelastic rubber, so as to fit `very closely, and prevent the water from running'witliin the suit or dress.

The method of ination is by means oi' tubes constructed in the usualvv l'nanner, and applied, severally,

to the front, back, and head of the jacket, aswell as' ,to the front or back portion of` the pantaloons.

These tubes may be supplied with valves and stopcocks, to retain the vair when the dress'becomes inflated; and they canl'be ,made of such a length as to be readily applied to the mouth of the person using them; or, when the dress' is used for diving-purposes, the tubes can be sufieicntly elongated as to receive the air from above the surface of the water.

A supplemental'head-piece is also used, so as to entirely enclose the head and face, with spaces or holes left for the eyes, whichsholes are or may be-lled with glass, to enable the workman or diver using the same to see clearly under the water, without any liability to admit the water upon Athe insideof the hood or headpiece. I l v To the mouth formed iu such head-piece may be jattached va tube of sufficient length'to admit air from above the surface of the water, to admit of breathing freely.

In the drawings- A A A represent the jacket. B B, the pantaloons and boots attached.

C O C O,`the tubes used for inating the saine.

D is the metallic flanged girdle or belt.

E, the .strap or belt that holds firmly the jacket and pantaloons upon the metallic girdle or belt.

F is the supplemental headfpiecashowing the spaces or openings for the eyes, nose, and mouth, and the attachment of the tube to the latter.

The opera-tion of adjustment of the dress is as followst A Thepantaloons, with boots, are first put ou, and the elastic rubber then adjusted to the flanged' girdle or' belt'. The jacket, with its head-piece, is then put on, andthe elastic rubber at its bottom placed over that f the palntaloons, and within the flanges aforesaid. Then the belt is buckled over both, and the operation is complete, unless it is desired that the person wearing the same be entirely submerged in the water. In that event, -the supplemental head-piece is adjusted hereinbefore described.

Iv do hereby'disclaim as my invention the construction and arrangement of'. the dcuices shown and claimed by John Bethel, as described in his English patent, dated January 3l, 1835,' No. 6,7 57; but

Wha-t I do claimJ as vmy invent-ion, and desire to sccnre by Letters Patent, is-

l. The construct-ion and arrangement-of a submarine suit of clothing, with spaces intervening between the inner'l and outer linings thereof, and tubes connected wit-h such spaces,` so that the suit of clothing, or the 'several parts thereof, may be inated in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

2. The construction and arrangement of the jacket and pantaloons of a submarine suit of clothing, so that the lower portion of. the jacket and the'upper portion or waist-band of the pantaloons shall have firmly attached-to them` 'elastic pieces of Indiav rubber, when the same is combined with a metallic baud, with outF wardly-projecting flanges thereupon, surrounding the waist of the wearer, into which band the elastic rubber is fitted and adjusted, and secured therein by a, belt or strap, in themanngr aud for the purpose herein described.

3. The supplemental head-piece l", in combination with asuit of submarine clothing, when the same is constructed and arranged in the mannerand for the purpose herein described. Y u C. S. MERRIMAN.

' Witnesses:

JAS. Horcnorr, J. A. RIORDAN. 

